handcuff

ARRESTED? INVESTIGATED?

ARRESTADO? INVESTIGADO?

handcuff
Albert Quirantes Miami Criminal Attorneys

Latest Insights on Criminal, DUI Charges & Defense Strategies

Miami Criminal Defense Insights
Aggressive representation for DUI, Domestic Violence, Gun Crimes & more

Common Defenses for a Florida DUI

If you have been caught over the limit in Florida and you have been charged with DUI, you need to consider carefully your next move so that you don’t end up with the maximum penalty for such an offense. Florida treats DUI offenses seriously and even if you are a first time offender you could […]

The Effect of a Conviction on a Florida Professional

Breaking the law in Florida sometimes happens quite unexpectedly, maybe an extra glass of wine at an office party, or a second or two losing attention on a cell phone resulting in a fatal crash. Whatever the offense, there are often consequences that have to be faced apart from the penalties imposed if convicted. In […]

What are Florida Criminal Law Scoresheets?

There are almost always consequences if you get convicted of a felony in Florida but you won’t always know exactly what the penalty is likely to be until you go to court and the judge and jury decide. Before any decision is made, the prosecutor will have made up a sentencing score sheet just for […]

How Many People Are Still Inside After a Wrongful Conviction?

It’s hard to know just how many people have been wrongfully convicted across the U.S. over the last few decades. We are a little clearer about the numbers these days mainly because of the use of DNA technology, but the figures that we do know about since this was introduced back in 1989 may still […]

How a Plea Bargain Works In Florida

If you have been caught and arrested when involved with a crime, the chances are you will face a number of charges. If you are convicted you could end up in prison or doing jail time as well as been given a hefty fine to pay. Some penalties may involve you being forced to do […]

Charges for Sex Crimes Could Impact Residence Choice and Location

When a person is charged with a sex crime, sometimes the defendant probably wonders why the sexual engagement was really worthwhile when it comes to how devastating the impact is when labeled a sex criminal. As a way of preventing violent sexual acts, or repeat offending, legislators have passed laws that regulate where a sex […]

Is the Use of a Threat on Social Media a Crime?

In the not too distant past, it was a crime to send a letter, post a notice in a newspaper or over the radio which involved a threat of violence, i.e. a threat to kill someone, or do them serious bodily injury. In Florida, statute 836.10 came into law back in 1913 and is still […]

Unlawful Detentions

Is it possible for a police officer to arrest you when outside his / her own jurisdiction? The answer is a qualified ‘yes,’ but there are definitely some circumstances when an out of jurisdiction detention could be considered unlawful. This doesn’t mean you can evade the law and get away with it, but it does […]

What is Vehicular Manslaughter?

If someone is killed in an accident, whether it was caused by the driver running a red light or speeding, there is a good chance that the driver could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. This is a serious offense and could lead to a 15 year prison term. If you have been charged with vehicular […]

Wrongful Convictions Can’t be Ignored in Florida

When thinking about a wrongful conviction you may well be thinking of the Netflix movie ‘Making a Murderer.’ While watching it you probably came up with an opinion as to whether the verdict should be guilty or not guilty. There is without a doubt most certainly a bone of contention about the outcome for the […]

Can Bite Marks be Used as Evidence?

Most criminal proceedings reach a conclusion based on indisputable evidence. Evidence comes in different forms, including DNA and bite marks. The use of bite-marks as evidence Throughout a criminal trial expert witnesses can be called upon to testify if the defendant left any teeth marks or lacerations on his or her victim. The expert witnesses […]

What’s the Difference Between State and Federal Criminal Charges?

States can legally enforce their own state laws, but many overlap with federal laws. For example, when it comes to the manufacturing of drugs it is illegal under both federal and state law. Overall, if a federal law is broken, the penalties are far more severe than when a state law is broken and a […]

What’s Behind the Huge Drop in DUI Arrests in South Florida?

Something has happened regarding drunk driving in South Florida and everyone is scratching their heads trying to figure out why. It’s not bad news, in fact, it’s the quite the opposite. DUI arrests have dropped dramatically in and around the City of Miami as well as in Miami-Dade County since 2014. Only 594 people were […]

How Can my Mug Shot be Removed from the Internet Once I have Been Informed of the Expungement of My

Getting your criminal record expunged or sealed is never an easy task. You probably assume that once you have completed all the paperwork and had it approved that that will be the end of the matter. It seems that it’s not as simple as that as there are some unscrupulous businesses preying on vulnerable people […]

How Difficult is it to Prove That Someone Was ‘Baked’ When Driving?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles put out a new ad earlier this year to try and stem the number of crashes that take place when drivers are stoned. ‘Drive Baked, Get Busted’ it says, but how easy really is it for police to spot a ‘baked’ driver and how easy really […]

First-Degree Felony Florida

First-Degree Felony Florida | Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer

What Is a First-Degree Felony in Florida? A first-degree felony is one of Florida’s most serious criminal classifications. For an ordinary first-degree felony, the maximum sentence is 30 years in state prison. That does not mean every person charged with one will receive 30 years. The actual exposure depends on the offense, the Criminal Punishment […]

First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life

First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life Florida | Miami Criminal Lawyer

What Is a First-Degree Felony Punishable by Life in Florida? A first-degree felony punishable by life is one of the most misunderstood classifications in Florida criminal law. It is not technically a life felony. It remains classified as a first-degree felony, but the statute defining the offense allows the judge to impose a sentence of […]

car Crash-Reporting in miami

Florida’s New $2,000 Crash-Reporting Threshold: What Drivers Should Know

Florida’s transportation law changes take effect October 1, 2026. One change is already prompting questions from drivers: the amount of apparent property damage that triggers an immediate duty to notify law enforcement after a crash rises from $500 to $2,000. The change is part of Senate Bill 488, Chapter 2026-39. The new threshold appears in […]

Florida Life Felony Charges

Florida Life Felony Charges | Miami Defense Lawyer

What Is a Life Felony in Florida? A life felony is one of the most serious criminal charges Florida law recognizes. It does not expose a defendant to the death penalty, but it does permit a judge to impose a sentence of life in prison. That distinction matters. When someone is charged with a life […]

Capital Felony Charges in Florida

Capital Felony Charges in Florida | Miami Defense Attorney

What Does a Capital Felony Mean in Florida? Florida law places capital felonies in a category of their own. They are not scored and sentenced like ordinary felonies under the Criminal Punishment Code. A conviction can expose an adult defendant to life imprisonment without parole and, in a case where the State Attorney seeks it, […]

Parent's Guide to a Juvenile

The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida

The Parent’s Guide to a Juvenile Arrest in Florida A free resource from Albert Quirantes, Esq. Criminal DUI & Ticket Lawyers If your child has been arrested, this guide will help you understand what is happening and what to do next. Keep this page handy, and call us anytime. 1. Take a Breath. Then Take […]

New Florida Laws July

New Florida Laws July 2026: What Changed for Criminal Cases

Florida’s July 1, 2026 Criminal Laws: What Changed in Miami-Dade Cases Florida’s new laws took effect on July 1, 2026, and several of them have a direct impact on criminal cases. More than 100 laws took effect that day. Most have nothing to do with criminal defense. But three changes stand out if you are […]

Veterans Treatment Court Florida (1)

Veterans Treatment Court Florida: Prosecutors No Longer Have Veto Power

Florida Veterans Can Now Seek Treatment Court Without Prosecutor Approval A new Florida law changed who gets the final say when a veteran asks to enter Veterans Treatment Court. Since July 1, 2026, a prosecutor can still weigh in on the request, but the prosecutor no longer has the power to approve or reject eligibility […]

Recent Posts

Send Us A Message